Printable Divorce Checklist: Pre-Divorce & Post-Divorce

Getting divorced requires you to stay organized. Each location has its own court process, and your steps may depend in part on whether you filed for divorce or you're responding to your spouse's filing. Regardless, there's a general framework of steps you can expect pretty much everywhere, and printing a checklist can help you accomplish what you must do.

Pre-divorce checklist (PDF)

This printable pre-divorce checklist gives you a sense of what to do. Think of it as a divorce checklist template — your personal checklist may have some different items.

Collect official copies of documents:

• Your marriage certificate
• Any prenup
• Any legal separation decree
• Any child custody order involving either or both of you
• Any adoption documentation
• Any restraining orders
• Financial statements (Keep instructions for how to pull newer copies later.)
• Medical records, if relevant to your divorce

Speak to people:

• Consult a lawyer
• Talk to your spouse about the end of your relationship and the legal steps you're taking
• Establish how you'll interact with each other's new partners
• Craft an agreement about child custody, child support, and property division
• Tell your child about the divorce

Protect yourself:

• Find out whether and when your health insurance will change
• Back up your data (if you fear your spouse might take your device and not give it back)
• Secure belongings your spouse might try to sell (e.g., jewelry) or destroy (e.g., papers)
• Set boundaries for how you'll respect each other's space and privacy
• Move out or cooperate with your spouse moving out

Practice good financial habits:

• Separate your bank accounts
• Open a credit card if you don't already have one
• Keep it modest (Don't spend lavishly or hide lots of cash.)
• Keep up with any obligations (health checkups, home maintenance, debt repayments, etc.)
• Have an emergency fund

Post-divorce checklist (PDF)

Use this printable post-divorce checklist to stay on track for your child's sake and for your own happiness.

Read the decree:

• Get a certified copy of your final decree
• Read it and be sure you understand everything
• Check it for mistakes (Let the court know immediately of any.)
• If the court gave you action items, enter them in your calendar:
• Task: _____________ Deadline: _____________
• Task: _____________ Deadline: _____________
• Task: _____________ Deadline: _____________

If you changed your name, update your:

• ID cards
• Health insurance
• Medical files at your doctor's office
• Savings and credit accounts
• Utility bills
• Deed to your house
• Title to your car
• Public assistance
• Professional licenses
• Employment file with Human Resources
• Contact information at your child's school
• Contact information at your child's pediatrician

If you moved, provide your address update to:

• Friends and family
• The court
• The child support agency (if the state administers your support order)
• Bills that are mailed to you

Finances:

• Close any shared bank accounts
• A month after closing them, request a copy of your credit report
• Update your utility bills
• Update your insurance policies
• Split your retirement account if you were court-ordered to do so (called a QDRO in the U.S.)
• Update the beneficiary or successor owner (who will inherit the money) on your investment accounts
• Speak to your tax preparer
• In the US, read IRS Publication 504
• In the US, decide whether to use IRS Form 8332 to let the noncustodial parent claim the children on taxes
• Update your estate planning documents, including a will and guardianship plans for your child
• Keep records of child support or alimony you pay or receive
• If you owe child support or alimony, automate your payments

Final cleanup of loose ends:

• Change ownership/lease of home or car (if the court so ordered)
• Change your physical locks or your online passwords if you're worried they're compromised
• Close shared accounts: post-office boxes, family email, etc.
• Give your ex any of their belongings you still have
• If your ex doesn't cooperate, document your efforts
• Discuss with your lawyer whether you'd like your files returned or destroyed
• Pay your lawyer's final bill

Start living your best life

Going forward:

• Implement your court-ordered parenting time schedule
• Obey the rules set in your parenting plan
• Respect the boundaries you've set, e.g., regarding new partners
• Take care of your physical and mental well-being
• Help your kids adjust to the divorce

Use a co-parenting app

Subscribe to Custody X Change, and you'll have tools to:

• View and update your parenting schedule and get notified of upcoming exchanges
• Schedule your child's activities
• Record the parenting time you actually get
• Track your expenses and repayments
• Take notes in a parenting journal
• Message the other parent
• Store info about your child (like teachers' names and clothing sizes) where the other parent can see it too
• Allow your child to see the schedule in the app

The Custody X Change online app enables you to do all this in one place. It lets you take on the divorce process step-by-step.